Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-03-11

Its send Anniversary-Interes Me-
mortal Addresses.


The meeting held in the chapel of the
First church to celebrate the send anniver-
sary of its organization has already receiv-
ed mention in these columns. A fuller
account of the proceedings on that occa-
sion may not prove unacceptable to some
who were not present, and even to some
of those who were.
Prof. Goodrich introduced his sketch of
the early history of the church by some
interesting remarks in regard to the other
congregational churches in this State, of
which there are 197 this church being 95th
in chronological order; the one planted
in Bennington in 1862 standing first on the
list. The charter of the town of Burling
ton was granted in the following year,
and the first settler. Felix Powell appeared
i'll lI13. In lI16, all settlements in Vermont
north of Rutland county were abandoned,
on account of exposure to the enemy. But
in 1888 the town began to be permanently
settled, and in $500 the population was
SIS. Previously to the fall of 1899, a por-
ton of the people were accustomed to
meet regularly to hear the reading of a
printed sermon but there seems to have
been no preaching, except by an occasional
missionary, or other transient preacher.
In August of that year Rev Daniel San
ders was released from his pastorate in
Vergennes. On learning this fact, Squire
David Russell and DR.. John Pomeroy rode
thither. and engaged him to come to Bur
lington and preach, they becoming per-
sonally responsible for his salary. Mr..
Sanders preached in the old court house
till 1902 After that period, till the cree
ttop of ba in al a nj Il ri m,
churches, religious services were held
most of the time in the new court house
erected on the site of the present Fletcher
Free Library.
DR.. Sanders salary of 800, to which he
was at liberty to add whatever he might
receive for his services as instructor, was
half of 1t raised by subscription. The
other half was levied upon the grand list
OF the town, and was payable IN grain,
beef, pork, butter or cheese
III the fall of 1904 II persons met at the
house of Moses Catlin, on the site now
occupied by the Mary Fletcher Hospital,
to adopt and sign form of covenant and
articles of faith, drawn up by President
Sanders with reference to the Organiza-
ton of church. And on the following
Sunday, February 23, assent being once
more given to the articles and covenant,
President Sanders declared the ii
signers to be a regular church of the Lord
Jesus Christ.
III August, lSUD, an e1OrU was maze 10
settle Mr.. Sidney Willard as pastor, but
without success In the summer of 1907,
the church had communion service at
the honse of Col. Buell., on which occasion
two children were baptised, one of whom,
Harriet Buell. afterward became the wife
of Geo. p Marsh
The Rev. samuel Williams, LID,
author of IA History of Vermont" preach
ed for the church in 1907 and lS0S, In 1909
Mr.. Willard Preston and Mr.. Amariah
Chandler preached here as licentlates,
but both declined to consider the question
of settlement, AS the fruits of their
labors, however, the church received its
first addition, 10 persons uniting, nine of
them on profession of faith. In the fall
of 1909 there were two candidates for set
Element Mr., Samuel CLARK being pre-
ferred by the society, and Mr.. Daniel Has
kell being the choice of the majority of
the church. This led Immediately to the
formation of the Unitarian society and
church, the old society, which had exist
ed since June, 1905, being dissolved The
same creed and covenant We're used tor
some years in both churches
The first church building was dedicated
December II, 1872, and was destroyed by
an incendiary fire on Sunday morning of
June 23d, 1889 1t was OF wood, painted
white, and faced the north and gave to
the street on which it stood, now Wnoo-
ski avenue, its former name of White
street Previous to the separation of
church and society, another site had been
selected for a church building, being the
piece of ground dlagOnally opposite to the
present nigh school building.
Prof Goodrich closed his sketch with
some remarks on the characters of Presi-
dent Sanders and Rev. Mr.. Haskell, eX-
hibiting portrait of the latter, together
with photographs of several of those who
have more recently served the church in
the relation of pastor
Deacon Kimball followed Prof. Good
rich with some interesting "reminiscences
chiefly relating TO the pastorate of Rev. j
X. Converse, who was installed over the
church in August, 1892. Deacon kimball's
first visit to Burlington was made in 1887.
He had made the journey through the
"wilds of Vermont" in company with his
father, by private conveyance. They
travelled some 40 miles day, passing
through southern New Hampshire and
over the Green Mountains of Vermont.
through Mount Holly and Shrewsbury,
where they found the snow and ice-this !
was the first week in May-some three
feet deep in the road. On the fifth day
of their journey, toward sunset, they
came in sight of Burlington, and among |
the first objects pointed out by the father |
were the dome of the college, and the |
spire of the White church of the Congre-
gationallstS, and the brick church of the |
Cnltarians. His subsequent visits were
short but pregnant TIL 1910 when he |
found the church holding a series of "pro |
tracted meetings. in the old "vestry' as
it was called This had been enlarged |
for the convenience of the church and con |
gregatiOn, while the present church edi- |
flee was being built, the old White church |
having been destroyed by fire the year pre-
vious. These meetings, held each after /
noon and evening for some weeks were
fun to overlooking, and OF deep interest.
They were conducted by Rev. j. X Con |
verse, assisted 10y Rev. Mr. Hoyt of Hines /
ht1rph and Roy Mr. of
result OF these meetings was large mum |
Der of conversions Among those added |
TO the church al this time was the deacon /
himself, who III lS43 became permanent .
resident of burlington, In these DAYS it /
WAS the custom OF the pastors of the con.
gregatlonal ami Methodist churches to .
hold meetings, about once month, in the .
outlying districts, Dorset street among
others Deacon kimball recalls how on
such occasions, Mr.. Converse "by his |
pleasant voice and aifable manner, and in
a earnest and feeling tbnuyb ,,,., No.